Haley Moss at Mic:
For me, hearing autism and disability mentioned in the debate was the first time I felt each of my identities was fully acknowledged. I have listened to candidates discuss women’s issues and banter about lawyers and policies — all things to which I have a connection. But this was the first time I had heard about people with disabilities.
Still, achieving the milestone of recognition is not enough. The candidates’ answers fell short in addressing the disability voting bloc and recognizing our full potential and humanity as voters, citizens, community members, family members, parents, and workers. Yang’s repeated use of “special needs” alienated disabled folks, while Warren referred to people with disabilities as “the least of thy brethren,” implying a somewhat lesser human experience.
I too took issue with Warren’s “least of thy brethren” comment, feeling disappointed by candidates echoing their perceptions that people with disabilities are weak. Regardless of how complex our needs and levels of support may be, we are no less human than others, nor should we be seen as second-class citizens.
People with disabilities are strong from facing a world that discriminates against us, objectifies us, or perceives us as less human than our nondisabled peers. We are voters, we are community leaders, employers and employees, students, family members, parents, activists, and individuals capable of different jobs and roles in all aspects of our society. If the world (including the polls), were more accessible, we would ultimately be viewed as more powerful.
Going forward, presidential candidates must acknowledge and celebrate our human value. It will only inspire the American public to do the same.
In the 2016 campaign, a number of posts discussed Trump's bad record on disability issues more generally. As his actions as president indicate, he has little use for Americans with disabilities.
In The Politics of Autism, I look at the discredited notion that vaccines cause autism. Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms have helped spread this dangerous myth. Measles can kill.
Neena Satija and Lena H. Sun at WP:
The nation’s oldest anti-vaccine advocacy group often emphasizes that it is supported primarily by small donations and concerned parents, describing its founder as the leader of a “national, grass roots movement.”
But over the past decade a single donor has contributed more than $2.9 million to the National Vaccine Information Center, accounting for about 40 percent of the organization’s funding, according to the most recent available tax records. That donor, osteopathic physician Joseph Mercola, has amassed a fortune selling natural health products, court records show, including vitamin supplements, some of which he claims are alternatives to vaccines.
In recent years, the center has been at the forefront of a movement that has led some parents to forgo or delay immunizing their children against vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles. Health officials say falling vaccination rates contributed to the infectious virus sickening more than 1,200 people in the United States this year, the largest number in more than 25 years. Measles outbreaks are surging worldwide, including in Samoa — where nearly 80 people have died since mid-October, the great majority of them young children and infants.
Abigail Adams at Time:
Health care largely took a back seat on Thursday night, but the moderators asked about a related topic not often discussed on the debate stage: people with disabilities. One in four Americans has a disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but politicians have historically not paid much attention to disabled voters and no other Democratic debate has featured a question explicitly about disability issues. However, voter turnout surged among people with disabilities in 2018 and this time around, many of the Democratic presidential hopefuls have started to talk about the topic, with many publishing disability policy plans and hiring disabled campaign staffers.
...
Entrepreneur Andrew Yang was up next, and he gave a personal answer that referenced his autistic son, who he has often mentioned before.
However, the way Yang talks about people with disabilities is controversial. “How many of you all have a family member or a friend or a neighbor with special needs or autism?” he asked. Many disability advocates see “special needs” as outdated phrasing and would prefer politicians not use euphemisms to refer to their disabilities. Advocates have also stressed that they would like to see politicians treat them as people who matter on their own, not just as family members or neighbors or friends of voters.
The most detailed person to answer the question was Warren, who spoke about fully funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as well as helping people with disabilities secure housing, jobs and equal pay. But even Warren ended her answer by calling disabled people the “least of thy brethren,” a reference that many on social media saw as pitying, even if well intentioned. For Democrats’ first time answering a disability question on stage, their responses showed that they are paying attention, but still have more learning to do.
A Washington state candidate running to succeed retiring Rep. Denny Heck revealed he is autistic Wednesday, citing teen climate activist Greta Thunberg as inspiration.
Collins, a 26-year-old truck driver, is currently the only declared Democratic candidate in the race for the state’s 10th District. The Democratic primary is set for Aug. 4, 2020.
Collins, a self-identified socialist, says on his campaign site that his experience as a trucker and navigating a complex, insufficient safety net shaped his views.
“[A] decade in the workforce has made the truth clear: our lives are made difficult on purpose. This system has been created and maintained by the people who own basically everything to protect their power,” he writes. “If we’re well-paid, secure in our housing, and educated, we demand a far bigger share.”
Although speculation abounds that historical statespeople who predate the modern understanding of autism, such as Thomas Jefferson, may have been on the spectrum, Collins would be the first openly autistic member of Congress.
Shortly after his inauguration, Kennedy created the President’s Panel on Mental Retardation. In a 1963 message to Congress, he called for a reduction “over a number of years and by hundreds of thousands, (in the number) of persons confined” to institutions for the mentally ill and mentally retarded. He said that these persons should be able to return to the community “and there to restore and revitalize their lives through better health programs and strengthened educational and rehabilitation services.” Though he did not use the term at the time, JFK was calling for deinstitutionalization. Over the next several decades, more and more people with disabilities such as autism would stay with their families or remain in their communities instead of entering institutions.
Barbara Rodriguez at The Des Moine Register:
Iowa law enforcement joined a state investigation into alleged wrongdoing at an institution for people with severe intellectual disabilities after state fact-finding efforts turned up "additional allegations,” health officials said Tuesday.
It's the first sign the state's probe into the Glenwood Resource Center involves possible criminal activity.
"The investigation is ongoing," said Mitch Mortvedt, a spokesman for the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI). "We're evaluating any and all information."
The involvement of state law enforcement comes weeks after the U.S. Department of Justice told Iowa officials it was investigating allegations of federal rights violations at Glenwood. Ahead of a recent visit to the facility, DOJ officials sought documentation on whether any residents were identified for inclusion in studies about sexual arousal or "optimal hydration."
Staff for DCI, a division within the Iowa Department of Public Safety, visited the facility on Monday, Mortvedt said.
"We're going to continue to, as we gain information, put policies and procedures in place and do the appropriate investigation that we need to," Gov. Kim Reynolds told reporters on Tuesday.
In 2019, Tony Leys reported at the same paper;
A former worker at a state institution for disabled Iowans has been acquitted of a charge that she used a butter knife to strike a young man who has severe autism.
Ayla Yates was one of six former employees at the Glenwood Resource Center who were arrested in February 2017 on charges of mistreating residents. The others pleaded guilty or were convicted at trial over the past eight months, but a Mills County jury this week found Yates not guilty of a charge of wanton neglect of a health care facility resident.
“Ayla maintained her innocence throughout the entire process,” her lawyer, Amanda Heims, said Friday. “Justice was done in this case, and it’s proof that the jury process works.”
Yates, 26, was among 13 employees of the state institution who were fired or quit amid allegations that they physically abused or verbally demeaned the facility's residents, who have profound autism or other intellectual disabilities.
Rex Huppke at The Chicago Tribune:
“The first thing to notice about Greta Thunberg is that she's 16 years old. She claims she has Ansperger's type — Ausperger's — or autism — Asperger's — some kind of problem in that area.
“And so she is made the Person of the Year by Time magazine, which is what? A political news magazine. Greta Thunberg has been introduced into the political arena by the worldwide left, including the Democrat Party. They have made her a political figure. They do this on purpose.
“So she’s out tweeting and politicizing, and she is free to lie and say whatever she wants to say about climate change and who’s responsible for it. And nobody is permitted to question her, you see, because she has — what did they call it? She is in the autism spectrum, so you can’t disagree, you can’t question, because she’s not well.”
She’s not well. That’s what set me off. While you can pick and choose the offensive aspects of those comments, the casual remark that Thunberg is “not well” highlights Limbaugh’s reckless disregard for anyone who isn’t just like him.
From the American Academy of Pediatrics:
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has updated its clinical recommendations on autism spectrum disorder for the first time in 12 years, analyzing the latest research on the neurodevelopmental disorder that affects an estimated 1 in every 59 children.
“Identification, Evaluation, and Management of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder,” a clinical report published in the January 2020 Pediatrics, emphasizes the importance of early identification of autism, which can be diagnosed as young as 18 months of age. The report, along with an executive summary (both published online Dec. 16), reflects significant changes in the field since the previous recommendations were published in 2007.
In that time, research examining the possible causes of autism spectrum disorder has progressed rapidly, with increasing understanding of the interplay between genetic make-up and environment.
Physicians now have a greater understanding of the medical and behavioral conditions that often co-occur with autism, and the body of research supporting evidence-based interventions has grown substantially. The updated clinical report reflects this new evidence and offers recommendations to physicians in identifying and managing the disorder, and in treating common co-occurring conditions.
Because early identification is so important, the AAP continues to recommend developmental and behavioral surveillance of children at every well child visit, developmental screening at 9-, 18-, and 30-month visits, as well as specific screening for autism spectrum disorder at ages 18 and 24 months.
“We know that the earlier we can start therapies for children who show signs of developmental delays, the better likelihood of positive outcomes,” said Susan L. Hyman, MD, FAAP. lead author of the report, which was authored by the AAP Council on Children with Disabilities and the AAP Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.
“There is no reason to wait for a diagnosis of autism before starting some services, such as speech or behavioral therapies,” said Dr. Hyman, a developmental and behavioral pediatrician at the University of Rochester and Golisano Children’s Hospital. “Interventions work best when they are early, when they are intense, and when they involve the family.”
More than 5 million Americans are affected by autism spectrum disorder, and its prevalence has increased to 1 in 59 children, an increase from 1 in 155 in 2007.The disorder is characterized by deficits in social communication and interaction and restrictive repetitive patterns of behavior.
Many individuals with autism have co-occurring conditions that can and should be treated, according to the AAP. This includes intellectual disability, language disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and anxiety, and disorders of sleep, feeding, gastrointestinal symptoms and seizures. The AAP report states that 40% of individuals with autism spectrum disorder have an intellectual disability. As many as 40% to 60% of school-aged children and adults with autism are reported to have anxiety disorders.
The AAP supports the use of behavioral interventions for skill building, based on the most recent research, and noted the combinations of therapies and approaches that include parents that are increasingly used in community settings.
“Families play a key role in treatment and advocacy for a child with autism spectrum disorder,” said Susan E. Levy, MD, MPH, FAAP, a co-author of the report, developmental and behavioral pediatrician at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a professor of pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
“They also need the support of the professional team, the clinicians, educators and therapists who are working alongside them.”
The AAP recommends that pediatricians:
- Conduct developmental and behavioral surveillance during all well visits with children, developmental screening at the 9-, 18-, and 30-month visits, and standardized screening of patients for autism spectrum disorder at 18 and 24 months old.
- Help ensure that children with autism spectrum disorder are provided with evidence-based services to address social, academic and behavioral needs at home and school, with access to appropriate pediatric and mental health care, respite services and leisure activities.
- Engage with families and youth to plan a transition to the adult system of medical and behavioral care.
- Inform patients and families about the evidence for interventions, refer families for possible participation in clinical research and refer families to support organizations.
While research has led to more knowledge about autism spectrum disorder, the AAP acknowledges that much work remains to be done.
“There need to be more equitable and affordable therapies for all families, from the time of diagnosis through employment and adult life,” Dr. Hyman said. “All children deserve options and hope for productive, satisfying lives.”
In The Politics of Autism, I discuss the issue's role in presidential campaigns.
From Democratic candidate Andrew Yang:
Today, 1 in 4 adults has a disability in the U.S., but 1 in 3 people with a disability do not have access to a primary healthcare provider and has unmet healthcare needs due to high costs. People with disabilities are much more likely to experience secondary complications that exacerbate their medical conditions and often need fast access to hospitals and treatment. Under the current system, these people disproportionately lack the access that they need because of high unemployment and homelessness rates, and higher rates of poverty. Additionally, there are issues with accessibility, both at healthcare provider locations and in transportation.
13.3 million children in the U.S. live with special healthcare needs. As the father of a son with autism, I understand the hardships millions of other American families face everyday. Children with disabilities need a wide range of medical and long-term services and support that our current healthcare system does not prioritize. Either not all medical services are covered, or they are only available in limited amounts through private insurance.
47% of children with disabilities are covered by Medicaid or CHIP, another 49% are dependent on private insurance, and the remaining 4% have no insurance at all. That is 4% too many. Early detection, intervention, and on-going support is critical for parents of children with disabilities to understand and meet their child’s needs. Our healthcare system should ensure all families have access to necessary experts and resources that equally uplift our children.
We need to ensure that all people, including children and persons with disabilities, have equal access to the healthcare they need. Outside of ensuring Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance at all healthcare providers and covering transportation costs, technologies such as telehealth will provide new and more convenient ways for persons with disabilities to access preventative care in a format of their choice and at an affordable cost.
From January 1 to December 5, 2019, 1,276* individual cases of measles have been confirmed in 31 states. CDC will now be updating these data monthly.
- This is the greatest number of cases reported in the U.S. since 1992. More than 75% of the cases this year are linked to recent outbreaks in New York. Measles is more likely to spread and cause outbreaks in U.S. communities where groups of people are unvaccinated.
- The majority of cases are among people who were not vaccinated against measles.
- Measles can cause serious complications. From January 1 – December 5, 2019, 124 of the people who got measles this year were hospitalized, and 61 reported having complications, including pneumonia and encephalitis.
Psychology Today:
A systematic review published earlier this year in the journal Vaccine identified the top reasons U.S. parents are hesitant to vaccinate their children. The review included 71 studies that asked participants open-ended questions about vaccinations.
The review found the most commonly-described reasons were that vaccines can cause illnesses, can overwhelm a child’s immune system if they get too many vaccinations at once, and that vaccines contain harmful ingredients. Parents also expressed fears that naturally-developed immunity is better than immunity from vaccines, and that vaccines are simply an avenue for profit-making.
But, in reality, the evidence shows that childhood vaccines are extremely safe. A systematic review published in the journal Pediatrics found rare cases of skin rash, an allergic reaction to an ingredient in the vaccine, and fever. It found no evidence that childhood vaccines lead to autism or leukemia.
This is notable because a fraudulent study published in the British journal The Lancet linked the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine to autism and colon inflammation. In 2010, the journal fully retracted the study after media reports that the author manipulated the evidence. Since then, medical scholars have called the debacle “the most damaging medical hoax of the last 100 years.” To help, public health officials have created interventions that can help pediatricians talk with vaccine-hesitant parents.
Tess Lanzarotta at The Washington Post:
Pro-vaccine advertisements are more likely than anti-vaccine advertisements to be removed from Facebook, often because they fail to meet the requirements for “political” advertising. This probably occurs because pro-vaccine advertisers believe their messages convey scientific truth, rather than a political position. This failure, however, also reflects a broader mistake by pro-vaccine forces: They have assumed the scientific merits of vaccination are self-evident and sufficient to convince a skeptical public.
But they need to stop assuming and start organizing as a political movement that employs calculated marketing, applies political pressure to de-platform anti-vaxxers, strengthens legislation surrounding vaccination and maintains social pressure to undergo vaccination. This set of strategies could potentially calm anxiety among parents, which has been fueled by misinformation online, and beat anti-vaxxers at their own game.
In The Politics of Autism, I discuss interactions between police and autistic people. Police officers need training to respond appropriately. When they do not, things get out of hand.
Leonora LaPeter Anton and John Pendygraft at the Tampa Bay Times:
Florida’s Baker Act directs police officers and some mental health professionals to hospitalize the mentally ill, but it was never intended to be used on children with autism or children who act out in class. The 48-year-old law even says those with developmental disabilities should not be committed unless they’re also mentally ill and a danger to themselves or others.
But more and more kids who do not meet the criteria are being taken from schools to crisis centers for up to 72 hours and more.
Across Florida, the number of children involuntarily transported each year to a mental health center has doubled in the last 15 years to about 36,000, or 100 a day, according to the Baker Act Reporting Center at the University of South Florida. More than 4,000 were under the age of 10.
There’s more awareness about reporting concerning behavior and more children making troubling statements on social media. And since the mass shooting at a Parkland high school in 2018, every public school in Florida has an officer or armed guard with a hard set of rules for dealing with kids in crisis.
Interviews with dozens of parents around the state reveal a system that sweeps up too many kids.
“She was 8,” said Lindsey Rezin, whose daughter, Marisol, has autism and was involuntarily committed for three days from an elementary school in Manatee County after she said - once - that she felt like stabbing herself. The officer asked if she knew where the knives were kept at home, and that was enough.
“It was unbelievably shocking. It rocked our world.”
The Tampa Bay Times found officers hospitalized children who had a meltdown, refused an order or drew a troubling picture. Some kids vaguely threatened to hurt themselves. Other children exhibited behavior that was typical for their development disabilities and identified in their federal education plans.
Often, the Baker Act of a child happens without parents’ knowledge or consent, and once the process is underway, they have no rights under the law to challenge a decision. These interactions with police can be particularly scary for parents of special needs children who struggle with tantrums and communication.
“In that moment, that decision may seem like a good one in order to err on the side of caution or avoid issues of liability,” said Kristin Kosyluk, an assistant professor at the University of South Florida’s Department of Mental Health Law & Policy who studies the impact of mental stigma. “But in the long term, the impact is a traumatized child, a traumatized family and an experience that can never be undone.”
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said police are “hands down, unequivocally the least qualified people to deal with this. The mental health training that law enforcement officers receive in the academy is minimal … so you end up with a lot of situations that are resolved by over-Baker Acting.”
I'm also weary, as many have said, of the use of "special needs" (looking at you, @AndrewYang). Disabled people have human needs like everyone else. And @ewarren referred to us as "the least of thy brethren." We are still seen as less than. #CripTheVote #Elected4Inclusion
's other Tweets
